Vladimir Putin Poisons US Diplomats With ‘Date Rape Drug’?

Washington has protested to Vladimir Putin after two US officials travelling on diplomatic passports were drugged in St. Petersburg last year. Their drinks were laced with “date rape drugs” in what officials believe to be a Cold War-style harassment from the Russians.

The incident happened during an anti-corruption conference in November of 2015. The alleged drugging caused concern in the US State Department who quietly complained to the Kremlin according to an official who had direct knowledge of the incident.

According to RFERL, several people who were also present in the conference said they were unaware about the drugging. Investigators revealed that two Americans – a man and a woman – had their drinks spiked with a so-called date rape drugs.

This most likely occurred at a bar in the St. Petersburg hotel where the two were staying. This begs the question; did the culprit know the two guests were diplomat? If so, are Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin behind it? What could they possibly gain from harassing US diplomats?

Vladimir Putin Provoking US By Harrassing Diplomats?

One of the diplomats was incapacitated and brought to a Western medical clinic in the city for treatment. Blood and tissue samples taken in order to know precisely what caused the sudden illness. However, while the American was in the clinic, the power went out. The staff was unable to obtain the necessary samples.

According to the Telegraph, this prompted the victim to be flown out of the country to another hospital. However, by that time it was too late to obtain viable samples.

Furthermore, when US officials returned to the St. Petersburg hotel, they found no records of who had been on shift at the time. This prompted the US State Department to file a diplomatic protest to Moscow.

State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Kennedy Trudeau said, “We are troubled, and we remain troubled, by the way our diplomatic and consular staff have been treated over the past two years.”

Trudeau further added that the harassment by security personnel and traffic police on US diplomats have increased significantly. Earlier this year, video emerged of a US diplomat and a police officer in a brawl outside the US Embassy in Moscow.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has rejected the State Department’s claims however denying that the US had lodge a protest. Russian investigators also concluded that no Americans sought treatment in St. Petersburg at the time.

What good could this saber rattling with the United States do for Vladimir Putin? Could the Russian leader be provoking America to force it into a confrontation? Let us know what you think in the comments below.